Brief comments on the past and future
weekends:
 
1.  Ed Skazyk has now looked better than Andy
Bandurski for more than a month.  Last year I
thought McCutcheon should have played his
hotter goalie, Bandurski, down the stretch.  This
year I think he should go with Skazyk against
both of this weekend's opponents, Brown and
Harvard, and see what happens.
 
2.  The offense really is there, with Vinnie Auger,
Mike Sancimino, P.C. Drouin, Jake Karam, and
Geoff Bumstead getting in gear against both
opponents.  Given this, I'd say our chances of
beating either Brown or Harvard have gone from
"none" to "slim", but it's good to see sufficient
firepower to deliver 12 goals in the last four third
periods.
 
3.  Every once in a while, you lose (or win) on
pure luck.  Cornell lost to Vermont on luck.  The
Big Red could as easily have won by two or
three goals -- the quality of their opportunities
throughout the entire game mirrored those of the
7-1 rout of Dartmouth.  Some of the difference
was due to the contrast between Tim Thomas
(good goalie) and Ben Haller (bad goalie).  But
most of it was just dumb luck.  This is a sign of
improvement, in a way -- until quite recently
Cornell failed without the assistance of fortune.
 
4.  Cornell always performs contrary to
expectations at Brown.  They lost (horribly) in '91,
then won two thrillers in '92 and '93.  In each case
they would reasonably have been expected to do
exactly the opposite.  Let's hope this continiues...
unless, by stating that they should do the opposite,
they should really NOT do the opposite...
Norman, coordinate!
 
5.  Size = Good.  Tony Bergin and Matt Cooney
make a difference to the team's physical presence.
 
6.  Defensive experience isn't making any
difference.  Neither Blair Ettles (before his injury)
nor Chris Felli (still in the lineup) has played well
at the blueline.  That they, as juniors, are
the most experienced defensemen really
underscores how seriously Cornell erred in
preparing to replace their huge defensive class of
'92.  Only now, with Steve and Chad Wilson
excelling and Jason Zubkus suprising, is the
defense starting to stabilize after a year and a half
of brutal ugliness.
 
7.  Let's hope that, like last year when they
graduated 4 but added 8, Cornell once again
recruits a substantial class, despite losing just 2
players.  Every aspect of the team is a need, with
goaltending and defensive skill and size leading
the way.  There's plenty of room on this team for
a freshman to come in and a take an
upperclassman's job (as has happened several
times this season), and the team only benefits
from the competition.
 
 
Greg
Somerville
Let's Go Red!